Well point construction



June 2, 1953 B, SHARE I 2,640,545

WELL POINT CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 51, 1952 @www Patentedl June 2, 1,953

" UNITED STAT ES APlrp'll' NT O FF--ICE WELL 4'POINT CONSTRUCTION Barnett Share,;Jamaica.Estates, N. Y.

ApplicationJanual-y 31, 1952, Serial No. 269,245 f l 4 Claims -BIhisl invention relates-to soil drainage apparatus'V or'` devices of `Vfthe vtype known as vWell points, and more partie-:ularly4 to l improvements irl-'well points of -thetype disclosedl in rny'U. S. Patent No. #1,915,136. y

`fWell=points of thertype tofwhich the present invention is directed serve theldual functions of jettingthe soil by water pressure `to prepare aivholeinto 'which the well point is inserted Lto the@ desired depthpand ofdraining thewater enteringthe hole,vby suction, to de-water the adjacent -soilfpricry tov excavation. By'use of the proper number of well points, properly arranged and foperated; a 'prehselected areamay have v the soilexcavated therefromto' thendesired depth under dry excavating conditions.

" '1To -these Vends, the well points include a-lower-jetting head Aconnected to yan upper suction headzby fit-pressurev and suction-line including an internally disposed pipe havinglongitudinally extending 1rilosor iiutes. A water pervious member inthe formof a cylindricalscreen embraces the` pipe "ribs or: utes and is" surrounded, for protective 1 purposes, Joy'K a vperforated metal cylinder. '.Inzoperation, a source of water under pressure is connected to' the suction -'head,valves-"being provided to-- direct i the water` through? the interior vuf- .the pipel to -the `jet head. l'Waterf under ;.;pressure,v discharged` from f the jet head, forces the soil away from the jethead-boring a hole into which the well pointthen-advances. Whenthe well Y point is at the desired depth, the'ffwatenjetting is terminatedand a suction line is `connected-to the suction head. The valvesxare now so arranged as to 'block communicationibetween the suctionlline and the-jet headi- Water-flows lthroughthe perforatedv metal cylinder-'land the screen fp'erfcrations `into the longitudinal" channels" formedv by the flutes or ribs; .and .downwardlyfinto a chamber Vfat the lower "end of the suction-dine. The-water is then drawn 'fupz through the pipe into-the suction-head-and out througl'il thefsuction line.

f/Withz present 1 devices, any increase in thev Yexcavating action of the'` water jetting must be obtainedfby-iincreasing .the Water pressure or by'reducing'thefdiameteroi the `vvell point and thus --fofA 'the excavation.l These 'I expedients either-require a higher capacitypump, forthe greater pressure, or reduce the Water draining capacityothe Well'point'xdue tol therreduced diameter.

accordance-With the present` invention, greater' excavavtingy "capacity `is `rprovided. by imiv parting `a turbulent 'or swirlingraction .to the jetted'fwater. This action isxeifectivesin'forcing the'soil-,to the periphery-.of` theexcavation, whereas 4merely increasing the Water Apressure tendsfto compact the soil in alignment With the point-and is ofv nopractical effect is `displacing `the soil laterally` out 'of the Way of -thepoint ThisA lateral displacement ofthe soil, isnwhat ultimately makesroom vfor'the `advance 'of the -well point into the excavation.

During ldrainage of the watenzby l-ficWiLn through `the perforated sleeve-and screen, .soil is carriedagainst thev outer surface'- ofthe screen tending to at least .partiallyA block"thenscreen openings.` Thisv necessitates' frequent Y withdrawal of the Well point 'anddisassembly for cleaningrthescreen.

In the invention arrangement,l the interior pipe is formed with afl series of -peripherally spaced openings just above -vfrom` the'connection to the `jet head. `By supplyingI water under pressure'tothewell point, as in jetting a hole in the soil, someo'f the water discharges through these Y'openings against the screen, tending `to spread over thelatter and `wash away the .soil accumulations." This water also: assists the excavatingV action `to some-.extent by removing soil from' the excavation around Athe Well point.

For an understanding of thefinventionprinciples, reference is madetothe *following description of typical Vembodiments thereof as illustrated4 in the accompanying drawing. 1 Invthe drawing:

' Fig. 1 is an elevation'of a structure'incorporating the invention;

Fig. 2` is arse'ction taken on the `linefZL--Zof Fig. .1;

Y.'rig. 3 is uan enlarged sectionof the 'Y jetting head-f of `the -well pointl shown 'in' Fig. 1

Fig; 4' is al sectionA takenon the'line- B---A-vv of Fig. 3;'fand Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryview similar to'Fig.'i 1, illustrating a modification. -Y Referring-to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. l to 4,Fig. 1`illustrates'a section I0 of a well-point generally similar tov that disclosed in myaforementioned' U. Si. PatentNo. 1,91`5,136,"those portions ofthe welll point not directly pertinent to the instant invention'and not necessary to any understandingl thereof v having heen vomitted tosimplify and clarifyf'the disclosure Well ypoint-sectionwll] includesfan intermediate `pressure orsuction'- line generally indicated at I5 and*secured-"at'itsgupper endinto a Y"suction V'head i i threaded' for connection to a suitable water line for supplying water under pressure to the well point or withdrawing water draining into the well point.

The pressure or suction line I5 includes an internally disposed pipe I2 which is threaded or otherwise secured at its upper end into head II. 'I'he pipe I2 is formed with longitudinally extending utings I3 the lower ends of which are externally threaded for connection into a jetting head generally indicated at I4. The outwardly facing grooves between adjacent ilutings form water channels I6.

A relatively fine cylindrical screen I I embraces pipe I2, contacting the flutings I3 and extending between heads I2 and I4. A relatively heavy water pervious cylinder or coarse screen I8 surrounds and overlies screen I1, likewise extending between heads I2 and I4.

4 imparting an angular velocity to the jetting water and forcing it laterally with considerable force. This greatly increases the rate of lateral displacement of the soil and thus the rate of excavation. With the greater turbulence of the water, a larger hole is formed than would be possible with a smooth jet under an equal pressure.

It will be noted that the vanes 2,5, while increasing the effectiveness of they excavating action of the well point, in no way impair the draining efficiency of the device. This is true because the ball seals the aperture 23 during drainage, thus completely removing the jetting head I4 from the hydraulic circuit. The drainage is effected solely through the channels I6 and the vanes vv in no way interfere with this .letting head I4 is generally cylindrical and its lower edge is serrated to facilitate excavating, as best seen in Figs. 1 and` 3, having circumferentially spaced teeth 2l shown as six in number by way of example only. Midway of its length, head I4 has a partition 22 with a central aperture 23 forming a seat for a ball valve 20. Ball 20 blocks aperture 23 when the Well point is connected to a suction line, moving upwardly to engage partition 22. A cross wire or pin 24 limits downward movement of ball 20 away from diaphragm 22. Partition 22 divides head I4 into an upper chamber 26 and a nozzle section 2l.

During an excavating operation, water under pressure supplied to head II passes downwardly through the interior of pipe il, forcing ball 20 away from seat 23 and discharging from nozzle section 21 of jetting head I4. The water displaces soil from beneath head I4, eventually moving the displaced soil laterally so that the well point can be moved into the excavated hole.

When the well point is at the desired depth, the water pressure line is disconnected from head II and a suction line is connected to this head. The suction causes ball 20 to move up and close aperture 23. Water flows inwardly through the perforations of member I8 and through screen I'I into the channels I6. The water ows down channels I6 to chamber 25 and then upwardly through the interior of pipe I2 and out through suction head II. As set forth above, any attempt to increase the excavating action by an increase in the water pressure not only requires greater pump capacity but also at least partially defeats its own purpose by a more forceful compacting action on the soil directly beneath the jetting head without any corresponding increase in the rate of lateral displacement of the soil. Thus, the increase in excavating rate. is nowhere near proportional to the requisite increase in power requirements. In accordance with the present invention, an increase in the rate of lateral displacement of the soil, and thus in the excavation rate is effected by imparting a swirl to the water jet and without an increase in the water pressure. In the arrangement shown in the drawings, and more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4, such swirl is effected by providing helically extending ribs or vanes 25 on the interior surface of nozzle section 2 of jetting head I4. These vanes extend from partition 22 to the outer edges of teeth 2I and, in the arrangement shown, are equal in number to the teeth. However, a larger or smaller number of vanes may also be used, the illustrated number being exemplary only. f Yanes T25 @si like. the Siatr vanesf a turbine operation.`

In certain cases it will be desirable to increase the turbulence of the pressurized water emerging from the jetting head I4, even at the expense of somewhat slowing down the drainage opera,- tions. A modied structure suitable for this purpose is shown in Fig. 5 which shows a pipe II2 surrounded by screens II'I and vI I8. The vanes II3, equivalent in function to iiutings I3, are helically extended along pipe II2. Alternatively, these may be helical nutings of pipe H2. Thus, the channels I l 6 are helical and impart an angular velocity to the jetting water. The construction of Fig. 5 may be used with a smooth jetting head or with the jetting head of Figs. 3 and 4. y

To clean the screens of accumulated soil without the necessity of withdrawing the well point, pipe I2 is formed with a series of small apertures 3d immediately above jetting head I4 and at the bases of channels IS. These apertures may be, for example, only in diameter. During jetting action, some of the water is discharged under pressure through apertures and against the screens. The water washes soil from the screens and also assists iny soil displacement around the well point. Pipe III (Fig. 5) may have similar apertures |30. l

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it should be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

l. Ina well point of the type comprising an upper head for connection to a :duid line, a jetting head for discharge of fluiduncler pressure to remove soil from beneath the well point, a conduit interconnecting said heads and havingfperipher-f; ally spaced longitudinally extending externalprojections, screen means -embracing said con-f,Y duit and engaging said projections to form with the latter uid passages external to said conduit,v an apertured partition dividing said jetting head1 into an upper chamberconnecting said fluid passages and the interior of said conduit and a lower jetting chamber, and movable Valve means controlling now through ythe partition aperture, thev improvement comprising peripherally spaced hele.. ical vanes extending longitudinally of lthe inner' surface ofsaid lowerjetting chamber from said partition to the discharge end of said letting, head. `j 2. In a wellpoint'of vthe type comprising an upper headfor connection to a' fluid line, a jetting" head for discharge of .duid under pressure tore-u niere soil f renbeeeahihe.Weltreise@ @revitinterconnecting said heads and having peripherally spaced longitudinally extending external projections, screen means embracing said conduit and engaging said projections to form with the latter fluid passages external to said conduit, an apertured partition dividing said jetting head into an upper chamber connecting said fluid passages and the interior of said conduit and a lower jetting chamber, and movable valve means controlling flow through the partition aperture, the improvement comprising peripherally spaced helical vanes extending longitudinally of the inner surface of said lower jetting chamber from said partition to the discharge end of said jetting head, and peripherally spaced cutting teeth on the discharge end of said jetting head, each of said vanes terminating in one of said teeth.

3. In a well point of the type comprising an upper head for connection to a fluid line, a jetting head for discharge of :duid under pressure to remove soil from beneath the well point, a conduit interconnecting said heads and having peripherally spaced longitudinally extending external projections, screen means embracing said conduit and engaging said projections to form with the latter fluid passages external to said conduit, an apertured partition dividing said jetting head into an upper chamber connecting said fluid passages and the interior of said conduit and a lower jetting chamber, and movable valve means controlling flow through the partition aperture, the improvement comprising arranging said projections as helices to impart a swirl to iluid delivered to said jetting head.

4. In a well point of the type comprising an upper head for connection to a uid line, a jetting head for discharge of uid under pressure to remove soil from beneath the well point, a conduit interconnecting said heads and having peripherally spaced longitudinally extending external projections, screen means embracing said conduit and engaging said projections to form with the latter iiuid passages external to said conduit, an apertured partition dividing said jetting head into an upper chamber connecting said fluid passages and the interior of said conduit and a lower jetting chamber, and movable valve means controlling now through the partition aperture, the improvement comprising peripherally spaced helical vanes extending longitudinally of the inner surface of said lower jetting chamber from said partition to the discharge end of said jetting head, and arranging said projections as helices' to impart a swirl to fluid delivered to said jetting head.

BARNETI SHARE.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,915,136 Share June 20, 1933 2,027,398 Moore Jan. 14, 1936 2,035,313 Griln Mar. 24, 1936 2,116,408 OLeary etal May 3, 1938 2,295,803 OLeary Sept. 15, 1942 

